We’ve been living in COVID times for over 6 months now. It’s getting closer to the holiday season. School has started up again. We are all trying to adjust to another way of life yet again. We’re tired.
“Just do some self-care,” we’re told.
What if you do this, but you still feel run-down?
If this sounds like you, this means you need more than a few minutes, hours, etc. to feel “normal.” This is also a sign that you are burnt out. It isn’t surprising. We’ve been mostly indoors for the past 6 months. We can’t travel as we could before. Even though places have opened back up, it’s not the same.
Let me take you in to my world for just a few minutes. If you can relate to anything I’m about to say, I do have some tips to share that have helped me stay afloat.
Going back to March when we first shut down, I personally wasn’t thrilled. I work from home, so that wasn’t the issue. The issue was entertaining my kids while having to work.
At first, things were great. I got to be around them more, we played more because we weren’t in a rush, we tried to grow a garden (fail for us by the way), I came up with different crafts and experiments to do, etc. It was great!
After awhile, it really started to sink in that we were HOME ALL THE TIME. I personally suffer from anxiety and depression, so I knew I had to find ways to get moving outside to help with my mood.
I tried to squeeze in times for self-care as well. You know, sitting in a quiet room, still waking up early for peace, exercised, etc. Soon, these things started to dwindle. Playtime turned into more TV time because I needed to work. Activities slowed down because “we’ve done that before” or “I want to play with my friends.” Stress and anxiety started increasing.
Work was picking up, but I was starting to fall behind. I had to close down the business for about a month or so to catch up and regroup. This slowed down some of the additional income. More stress was added. Days were running together because I stopped taking care of myself.
By this, I mean I stopped putting on “real” clothes, I stopped reading my books, I wasn’t taking care of my skin, I was starting to consume more junk food, and I pretty much just woke up to live the same day over and over. I was tired. Oh, but self-care would do the trick! I just need to add more quiet time and pick up where I left off.
When I did this, I still felt just as anxious, irritated, and all the other negative feelings you can think of. I was burnt-out. I needed time away, or at least a day or two where I didn’t do anything at home.
However, how exactly would this get done? My husband had to work this entire time and my parents couldn’t take my kids either. Hiring help is out of the question for the time being, so what exactly could be done?
Related Post: 7 SIMPLE SELF-CARE IDEAS FOR DIFFICULT TIMES
As I mentioned before, if any of this sounds familiar, I have a few tips to help alleviate some of these feelings.
Having (what I deemed) COVID burnout is another beast of its own. Doing simple self-care isn’t going to cut it. In order to overcome this particular burnout, especially as a mom, try doing these things:
Ask for Help From a Professional
If you read my last article, then you know I am all about reaching out to a pro. Jen has amazing resources here and in her group that can help you beat burnout. She also has an amazing program you can enroll in where she takes care of you 1 on 1. I highly suggest you check it out if you’re at this point!
Remember Your Vitamins
Eat your vegetables & fruit, take your vitamins, drink that shake, etc. Do whatever you need to do to get your daily nutrients in. I slowed down on my junk food and went back to eating more plants and taking vitamins. This helped with my sluggish feeling and allows me to keep up with my 4:30am-8:30/9pm days.
Get Some Sunlight
Okay, maybe the sun isn’t out some days. Still take some time to go outside and walk around if you can. The fresh air is a huge mood booster.
Get Dolled Up
You don’t have to look like you’re about to attend a wedding, but at least put on some clothes outside your house clothes. Before COVID hit, I bought some outfits to wear to go to networking events that I never got a chance to wear. Now, I just put them on. Even if I’m just staying home to help my son with school. It may not stay on the whole day, but the fact I still go through the motion has helped boost my mood. Also, if I’m making my kids get dressed, I decided to do the same.
Find Something to Look Forward to
Instead of waking up with dread of repeating my day, I have something I look at to help boost my mood. For me, it’s my 2020 goals. Clearly not all of them will happen, but there are still some things I can do before the year ends. Writing out my current accomplishments and posting them on my wall has also been a mood booster. Find at least one thing to do each day to keep the mood up. Do you take a bath each day? Maybe it’s eating your favorite dessert while watching Netflix. Switch things up a bit as well. Don’t keep doing the same exact activity during your times of self-care. Something as little as switching your soap during shower/bath time can make things a little more exciting.
These tips won’t completely break the burnout. I highly suggest speaking to someone who knows the correct tools to get you in a better space. In the meantime, I hope this helps a least a few of you!
ADRIANA RICHARDSON
Adriana Richardson is from the beautiful Charleston area of South Carolina. There she lives with her husband and two children. Adriana has her Bachelors degree in Health Science, and she is a Virtual Assistant and writer by profession. Outside of this, she enjoys getting involved with her community, watching Netflix, has a small addiction to sweets and just likes to enjoy life with her family and close friends.
